WE HAVE MOVED / NOS MUDAMOS DE UBICACIÓN

Our new office is located at 5901 Old Fredericksburg Road, Building C, Suite 102, Austin, TX, 78749.

Pursue the American Dream

At J. Sparks Law PLLC, we have a passion for aiding individuals from around the world.
We have represented immigrants from over 100 countries.

New Countries Eligible for Parole!

U.S. citizens and residents who are petitioning family members to immigrate to the U.S. may soon be able to ask that their family members be paroled into the U.S. If you filed an I-130 petition for a family member from Cuba, Haiti, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, or Guatemala, call today!

Austin Immigration Lawyer

Backed By Over 20 Years of Experience

When you find yourself up against the U.S. immigration system – a complex maze that can seem impossible to conquer – you need the help of a trusted advocate. At J. Sparks Law, PLLC, our immigration lawyers deliver the high-quality legal representation you need to effectively navigate the road ahead. Our attorneys are determined to fight for your rights and help you achieve your American dream.

We Value Each and Every Client Nearby Austin Area

We see you as much more than a case number – in fact, we treat every client like a member of our family. Our team cares about your success and the outcome of your immigration case. We recognize that our representation can have a profound impact on your future and we do not take that responsibility lightly. Rather than apply a cookie-cutter approach to your case, we take the time to develop personalized strategies that have been tailored to your unique situation.Immigration lawyers in Georgetown, Texas - 15th April 2019: South Austin Ave

 

Immigration Legal Services in Austin

Serving Clients in Austin Area and Throughout Texas

The U.S. immigration system is a complex maze of intricate laws, unclear processes, and hoops to jump through. People often face difficulties achieving success in pursuing their immigration goals without the assistance of a knowledgeable and experienced lawyer. As a board-certified attorney in immigration law, Julie Sparks is well-versed in U.S. immigration laws and policies. She and her team are dedicated to helping you achieve your goals.

With well over twenty years of combined legal experience, the attorneys at J. Sparks Law, PLLC have what it takes to see your case through to the end and beyond, if an appeal is necessary. When you retain our firm, you can rest assured that your case will be handled with great care and that your needs will be prioritized every step of the way.

Consult J. Sparks Law, PLLC by calling (512) 952-2176 or contacting us online. Our services are available in Spanish! Call today.

What We Offer

At J. Sparks Law, PLLC, we offer a wide range of legal services for most types of immigration cases. We routinely assist clients seeking visas, green cards, and citizenship.

Our compassionate Immigration Lawyer Austin is also dedicated to helping individuals who face the threat of removal from the U.S. or physical violence in their home country, handling VAWA, DACA, asylum, Green cards, and deportation defense cases.

In addition to all these cases, we also handle appeals. Our lawyers have extensive experience fighting injustice in the American immigration system.

What are the Main Family-Based Immigration Visas? 

As explained by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, foreign citizens seeking to live in the U.S. permanently must acquire an immigrant visa (IV). To be eligible to apply for an IV visa:

  • The foreign citizen must be sponsored by an immediate relative who is 21 years of age or older and either a U.S. citizen or a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident, meaning that they hold a Green Card.

There are two types of family-based immigrant visas

  • Immediate relative – this visa is based on a close family relationship with a U.S. citizen, including a spouse, child, or parent. This category of visa is not limited to each year. 
  • Family preference – the family preference visa is for specific, more distant family relationships with a U.S. citizen or particular relatives with Lawful Permanent Resident status. This category of immigrant visas is limited each year.

Determining which immigrant visa you may be eligible for requires consideration of your family, their U.S. citizenship status, and whether or not the type of visa you are pursuing has met its annual quota. An immigration lawyer from J. Sparks Law, PLLC, can advise you on what your best pathway to U.S. residency might be.

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As an immigration law firm, we recognize that each case is unique, and we make ourselves available to answer any questions our clients may have to provide the guidance they need.

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The Benefits of Retaining J. Sparks Law, PLLC

Based in Austin and serving clients throughout Texas (Georgetown, Elgin) and the world, our firm helps clients through some of the most emotional and challenging experiences of their lives. With a results-driven yet client-focused approach, we strive to help people live, work, and thrive in America.

Clients enjoy working with our firm because we:

  • Offer weekend appointments
  • Offer our services in both English and Spanish
  • Give our clients the chance at a new beginning

What are the Most Common Employment-Based Immigration Visas? 

Each fiscal year between October 1 and September 30, some 140,000 employment-based visas are made available for qualified applicants through provisions in U.S. immigration law. The immigrant visas that are employment-based are broken down into five preference categories. If you qualify for an employment-based visa, your spouse and minor children may also accompany you through follow-to-join employment-based immigration opportunities. 

To begin the process of being considered for an employment-based visa, you file Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker. You must provide sufficient evidence with your application to meet the criteria for approval, and generally, you will be required to attend an interview. 

The five employment-based visa preference categories are:

  • Employment First Preference (E1) – Priority Worker and Persons of Extraordinary Ability
  • E2 – Professionals Holding Advanced Degrees and Persons of Exceptional Ability 
  • E3 – Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Unskilled Workers (Other Workers)
  • E4 – Certain Special Immigrants 
  • E5 – Immigrant Investors 

The unique facts and circumstances of your situation, and the evidence you can provide with your application, will determine which employment-based visa you might be eligible for.

Fragment of Stamp H1B USA Worker Visa.

What is the Immigration and Nationality Act?

One of the premier bodies of laws overseeing United States immigration matters is the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The law went into effect in 1952 and has undergone many amendments over the years, including a major overhaul in 1965. This is both a confusing and complex law found under Title 8 of the United States Code.

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To learn more about our immigration services, call (512) 952-2176 or contact us online. Speak with an Immigration Lawyer Austin today.

Our Results Speak for Themselves

We Treat Our Clients Like Family

Child Sexual Abuse Victim Appeals for Asylum in Court

Victim of Child Sexual Abuse Granted Asylum

College Student Was Arrested for Possession

Client Released and Case Dismissed

Deported Honduran National’s Case Reopened

Deportation Case Terminated

Entered the U.S. Illegally

Parole Awarded to Mother of Soldier

Family Suffered Interrogation and Arrest in West Africa

Asylum Granted

Foreign Husband Petitions for Provisional Waiver

Provisional Waiver Approved

Juveniles Facing Deportation Petition for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status

Removal Proceedings Closed

Man Previously Tortured by Police in His Country Was Awarded Protection

Protection Won for Torture Survivor

Mexican National Arrested

Case Dismissed and Deportation Avoided

Mexican National Passes Visa Interview

Visa Approved for Mexican National

Austin Immigration Law Firm Services

With well over twenty years of combined legal experience, the attorneys at J. Sparks Law, PLLC have what it takes to see your case through to the end and beyond, if an appeal is necessary. When you retain our firm, you can rest assured that your case will be handled with great care and that your needs will be prioritized every step of the way.

The Reason We Love What We Do

Read What Our Past Clients Have to Say About Us

We cannot thank Julie Sparks and the team at J. Sparks Law enough for completely changing our lives.

“My husband was arrested in 2017 and at this time he had no legal status in the United States after his DACA had expired days prior to the arrest. He was facing a criminal charge with an immigrant hold which was devastating for us. …”

Ever & Shuree

Julie was VERY attentive, frank but optimistic. If you want a PHENOMENAL team, definitely go with them!

“We had an extremely complicated case which took 9 years and 2 other lawyers,
yet never got fixed. Other attorneys were left scratching their heads with no answers for
us on how to proceed, leaving us …”

E & S Abundez

Good service and experience

“My husband and I completely endorse Julie Sparks Law Firm for immigration law and documentation processing. We highly recommend that other families do not attempt to work the immagration process on …”

Laura Pérez

Best Immigration Attorney in Texas

“Sheer Expertise. Julie Sparks is Skilled, Direct, and Honest — you can trust what she says because she lays it all on the table. Julie herself has a comfortable laid-back style behind which you can …”

Faheem & Jan

Genuine advocate with service oriented staff

“Julie is an honest, trust worthy person and a lawyer, regardless of complex nature of my case, She is patient and receptive in understanding the situation, then researches in depth accompanied with …”

Dru

Real care and dedication

“Our case was long and complicated and our previous lawyer just stops responding to our calls. We moved down here in Texas and decided to try one more time. After some research, we decided to go with …”

Eric and Regina

What Makes Us Different

We have a passion to aid individuals from around the world and have represented immigrants from over 100 countries.

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Availability to Our Clients

We offer weekend appointments to help meet the needs of our clients and work with their busy schedules.

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Experience On Your Side

Julie Sparks is Board Certified in Immigration Law with over 20 years of experience.

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Payment Plans Available

We are here to help. At J. Sparks Law, PLLC, we offer payment plans to assist our clients in their time of need.

Meet Our Austin Immigration Attorneys

Our Team Focuses Solely on Immigration

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Julie Sparks

Founder Attorney

Julie Sparks is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Immigration and Nationality Law, one of a few ...

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Florencia Turiaci

Managing Paralegal

About Florencia Turiaci Florencia was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She graduated with her Juris Doctor with a ...

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Martha Aranda

Attorney at Law

About Martha Aranda Martha is a licensed attorney in the state of Texas with several years of experience in both immigration ...

View profile

Frequently Asked Questions

Over the years, we’ve found that there are a handful of very common, yet very important questions people have regarding immigration attorneys. Here are answers to some of our most Frequently Asked Questions. Thank you for taking a moment to read them:

When someone wants to directly help a family member gain legal status in the U.S., the first step is the filing of an I-130 petition.  Residency, which is the legal status that green card holders have, can only be considered and approved after an I-130 has been approved.

The approval of an I-130 petition means that the family relationship has been established and acknowledged by USCIS.  For example, if you have petitioned a child, an approval means that USCIS has acknowledged that the person you filed for qualifies as your child under the law.  The meaning of “child” can include not only biological children but sometimes stepchildren and adopted minors.

If you have petitioned your spouse, an approval of your I-130 petition indicates that USCIS has both acknowledged that your marriage is legal and that your relationship is genuine.

The person filing the petition must be a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident (LPR).  U.S. citizens qualify to petition more types of relatives than permanent residents.

Permanent residents qualify to file I-130 petitions for:

  • Spouses
  • Children of any age, as long as the child is unmarried

U.S. citizens qualify to file I-130 petitions for:

  • Spouses
  • Children of any age, whether married or unmarried
  • Parents
  • Siblings

The immigrant being petitioned must apply on their own for residency in order to obtain a green card.  That residency application cannot be approved without presenting an approved I-130 petition filed by the immigrant’s LPR or U.S. citizen relative.   Once the I-130 is approved, the immigrant may be granted a green card by applying for an immigrant visa from a consulate outside the U.S. or by filing for adjustment of status in the U.S.

All immigrants must prove that they are “admissible.”  This means, for example, that those with certain types of criminal convictions in their past may not qualify or may need a waiver.  The same is true for those with past violations of immigration law.

It is important to know whether your family member will qualify to receive residency before filing an I-130 petition.  An experienced immigration attorney can advise you as to whether your loved one will ultimately be able to receive a benefit before you file the case.

Read on: Family Reunification Parole Processes

The question is far more complex than many realize.  First, everyone must wait for USCIS to process the petition.  USCIS posts its current processing times on its website.  But in addition to that normal processing time, some people must wait years after filing their I-130 petition before they can actually ask for residency.  Others, who are considered “immediate relatives,” do not have to wait in a long line and their process typically moves much faster. “Immediate relatives” are spouses of U.S. citizens, unmarried children (who are under 21) of U.S. citizens, and parents of U.S. citizens age 21 or older.  Many immediate relatives already in the U.S. choose to file the I-130 petition and the residency application at the same time.

A qualified immigration attorney can help you predict how long the entire process could take and can advise you as to whether your immigrant family member can ask for residency immediately or whether they must wait until their date becomes current in the visa bulletin.  Another factor that affects the processing time is whether the immigrant will have their interview at a consulate outside the U.S. or whether they will be interviewed locally inside the U.S.  Only certain immigrants are eligible to use an approved I-130 petition to seek adjustment of status in the U.S.

Read on: Family Reunification Parole Processes

A 245(i) family-based petition is simply an I-130 petition that was filed on or before April 30, 2001.  “245(i)” is simply the name of the section of law that allows certain immigrants who would not other qualify to still get their residency if they pay a $1,000 fee.

The most common examples relate to immigrants who last entered the U.S. illegally without inspection.  Most immigrants who enter without inspection do not qualify to attend their green card interview in the United States.  Instead, they must leave the U.S. and go back to their country for an interview at a U.S. consulate abroad.  But if someone has an I-130 petition that was filed on their behalf, on or before April 30, 2001, they may qualify to obtain residency and have a green card issued without ever having to leave the U.S.

Some immigrants can qualify under this law even though they weren’t directly petitioned.  For example, some immigrants were children when a U.S. citizen’s aunt or uncle petitioned their parents.  That immigrant child could also qualify for benefits under 245(i) through the petition filed by their aunt or uncle.  Immigrants may also qualify for 245(i) benefits if they were sponsored by an employer on or before April 30, 2001.

Typically, those who live in another country outside of the U.S. will have their residency interview in their country of citizenship.  For those immigrants already in the U.S., some qualify to apply for adjustment of status and have their green card interviews at their local USCIS office.  For others in the U.S., returning to their home country is the only option.

Read on: USCIS Offices for People in Austin

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Areas We Serve

Georgetown

Our Immigration Lawyer in Georgetown is committed to providing the highest legal level of legal service to our Texas clients.

Elgin

Our Elgin Immigration Lawyer is committed to providing the highest legal level of legal service to our Texas clients.

Waco

Our Waco Immigration Lawyer is committed to providing the highest legal level of legal service to our Texas clients.

Temple

Our Temple Immigration Lawyer is committed to providing the highest legal level of legal service to our Texas clients.

Round Rock

Our Immigration Lawyer Round Rock, TX is committed to providing the highest legal level of legal service to our Texas clients.

Killeen

Our Immigration Lawyer in Killeen Texas is committed to providing the highest legal level of legal service to our Texas clients.

Copperas Cove

Our Copperas Cove Immigration Lawyer is committed to providing the highest legal level of legal service to our Texas clients.

Belton

Our Belton TX Immigration Lawyer is committed to providing the highest legal level of legal service to our Texas clients.

San Marcos

Our Immigration Lawyer San Marcos is committed to providing the highest legal level of legal service to our Texas clients.